| It's that time again to pay your credit
| |
| | 4. Always read the website's privacy
|
| card bill, so you head over to your
| |
| | policy. Some websites may reserve the
|
| company's website and as you begin
| |
| | right to sell/give your information to a
|
| scanning your credit card statement, you
| |
| | third party. Check the document to see
|
| are shocked to see three unauthorized
| |
| | if they allow an opportunity to "opt-out"
|
| charges. Fortunately, they are small
| |
| | of receiving special offers from
|
| amounts and are easy to get credits
| |
| | third-party vendors or for permission to
|
| issued by the company. However, it is
| |
| | share your personal information.
|
| unquestionably a wake-up call for you to
| |
| | 5. Always check for a lock symbol in the
|
| pay more attention when you are making
| |
| | status bar at the bottom of your Web
|
| online purchases so that you don't become
| |
| | browser window. Also, do not provide
|
| a victim of Internet fraud.
| |
| | your personal information if the website
|
| A record $65.1 billion was spent in 2004
| |
| | address doesn't start with "https" (a
|
| for online consumer spending. More and
| |
| | sign that the website is using a secure
|
| more people are attracted to the ease of
| |
| | server).
|
| online shopping and are spending greater
| |
| | 6. Always choose only verified sellers.
|
| amounts. Unfortunately, the probability
| |
| | Check to see if the vendor is a verified
|
| of becoming a casualty of Internet fraud
| |
| | member of a reputable third party such as
|
| is also escalating. The Internet
| |
| | the Better Business Bureau, VeriSign, or
|
| National Fraud Center Watch declared that
| |
| | Guardian eCommerce. These third-party
|
| the typical loss to fraud victims for
| |
| | sites help to ensure online consumers
|
| just the first half of 2005 was $2,579.
| |
| | will be protected when shopping or
|
| This is compared to the $895 average for
| |
| | conducting e-commerce transactions.
|
| all of 2004. Complaints relating to
| |
| | 7. Always check that the delivery date
|
| general goods purchases (merchandise
| |
| | posted is reasonable. If you have not
|
| never received or misrepresented)
| |
| | dealt with the vendor on a regular basis,
|
| accounted for 30% of Internet fraud
| |
| | be cautious of any website that states
|
| complaints, and auction purchases headed
| |
| | the shipment will be delayed 20 days or
|
| the list at 44%.
| |
| | more. Delivery dates of 7-10 days are
|
| While many e-commerce websites are
| |
| | more common.
|
| trustworthy and have taken the necessary
| |
| | 8. Always keep a paper trail of all
|
| safety measures to protect you, it never
| |
| | online transactions. Print out a hard
|
| hurts to always be careful. If you have
| |
| | copy of the transaction and keep it in a
|
| decided to make an online purchase, you
| |
| | file for future reference.
|
| might think about these ten simple rules:
| |
| | 9. Always be cautious of website offers
|
| 1. Always avoid using an ATM or debit
| |
| | that just sound too good to be true. The
|
| card. Use only one credit card,
| |
| | Internet is littered with get rich quick
|
| preferably with a low credit limit, when
| |
| | scams and false advertising claims.
|
| making online purchases. 2. Always be
| |
| | Investigate all claims thoroughly before
|
| wary of unsolicited offers by sellers.
| |
| | proceeding.
|
| The Internet National Fraud Information
| |
| | 10. Always contact your state's
|
| Center Watch reported that email, as a
| |
| | Department of Consumer Affairs for
|
| method of contact by Internet scammers
| |
| | further assistance if you do not receive
|
| was up 22% in 2004.While the offer might
| |
| | what you paid for, and the vendor will
|
| be legitimate, spammers like to use this
| |
| | not return your emails or calls.
|
| tactic to side-step reputable sites that
| |
| | These common sense rules about online
|
| provide consumer protection for online
| |
| | purchases will eventually become second
|
| purchases.
| |
| | nature as you continue to use the
|
| 3. Always use only reputable e-commerce
| |
| | Internet. They can also save you untold
|
| websites that list their street address
| |
| | anguish and alarm when you discover that
|
| and telephone number in case you need to
| |
| | you've been billed for purchases that
|
| get in touch with them directly.
| |
| | were never authorized.
|
